Loose-leaf file.



C. F. McBEE.-

LOOSE LEAF FILE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1914.

1,151,866., Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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caries.

CHARLES E. MCBEE, ATHENS, OHIO.

LOOSE-LEAF FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent. {Patented Aug, 31,1915,

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,840.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. MoBnE, acitizen of the United States, residing .in Athens, county of AthenaandState ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-LeafFiles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf file of simple,strong and durable construction, and which may be quickly and easilyoperated for the purpose of removing certain sheets from the file or forinserting sheets therein, atany desired position.

A further object is to provide such a file with a secure lock on eachend thereof, both of said locks being released simultaneously by oneoperation, and the locking of the same being accomplished automaticallyby the closing of the file.

My invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which 7 Figure I shows a perspective view of my file, thedotted lines indicating its appearance when opened for the reception ofsheets. Fig. 11 is an elevation view showing the position of the partswhen the file is nearly closed; and Figs. TH and TV show detail views,partially in section, of the manner of locking of the plates, Fig. 111showing the positions of same just before locking.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the reference numerals 10 and 11indicate the upper and lower covers, respectively, of my file, samebeing flexibly joined to the customary back 12.

My improvement is in the nature of an attachment adapted to be securedto the inner surface of the back 12, and said back may be speciallyformed to receive it, if desired, or the body portions of mydevice maybe formed to be attached to any customary or ordinary back.

The preferred form of my attachment, as shown in the drawings, consistsof twobody plates 13 and 14, hinged centrally at 15 and 16, said bodyplates covering practically all of the inner surface of the cover 12,the line of movement of the two plates, as denoted by the hinges, beingcentrally and longitudinally of the back. The end of the plate 13.isturned inwardly, at right angles to the body portion, on each of itsends so as to provide ears 17 and 18 respectively, said ears pro ectingbeyond the center between the covers when the file is closed. The plate14: is likewise turned at its ends to provide the ears 19 and 20, thecars 17 and 19, and the cars 18 and 20,,being designed to overlap and tobe in light engagement with each other when the file-is closed. The.ears 17 and 18 are each provided with an orifice and a rod 21 isoperatively secured therein as shown. The said rod is actuated by aspring 22, mounted between and bearing against the collar 22, which isfiXed on the rod, and theadjacent ear 18, the circular looks, or stops,23 and 2-1, confining the rod within its bearings. (the said orifices)and limiting the movement of the rod in one direction and determiningthe normal position thereof as caused by the spring 22. The limit ofmovement of the rod whenit is forced againstthe spring is determined bythe push lug 25 secured to the outer end thereof as shown.

The ears 19 and 20 are each provided with circular orifices 26 and 27respectively, designed to receive the circular lugs 23 and 24:respectively, and extending outwardlythrough the ears from each orificeis a slot, 28 and 29 respectively, designed to receive the rod 21.Surrounding the outer end of the slots 28 and 29 the ears 19 and 20 arebeveled toa sharp edge for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The numerals 30 and 31 indicate posts, curved as shown if desired,secured to the plate 13 the ends of which are received in orifices 32and 33, respectively, in the plate 14 when the file is closed, and thenumerals 34 and 35 indicate like posts on the plate 14 the ends of whichare received in orifices, 36 and 37 respectively, in the plate 13 whenthe file is closed.

The plates '13 and 14: are secured to the back 12 in any desirablemanner.

In practical operation the file being open perforated sheets-are placedon either set of posts desired. The covers are then closed, thesharpened edges oftheears .19 and 20 engaging between the ears 17 and 18respectively and their respective lugs 23 and 2% on the rod 21. Pressureto bring the backs together forces the ears l9 and 20 into the minutespaces between the ears 18 and 19 respectively and their respectivelugs, thus forcing the rod 21 against its spring 22 and forcing anopening. The slots 28 and 29 receive the rod 21 which passestherethrough and when the orifices 26 and 27 are in position under theirrespective lugs 23 and 2 k the spring 22 forces the rod backward, thesaid lugs entering their respective orifices and seating therein, thelugs butting against their respective ears l9 and 20. It is obvious thisaction and the construction of the parts form a practical andsatisfactory lock for each end of the file. When it is desired torelease the locks to open the file to receive or to take out sheets theoperator pushes on the lug 25 moving the rod 21 and forcing the lugs 23and 24 out of their respective seats and the rod 21 passing fromengagement with the'ears 19 and 20 through the slots 28 and 29respectively.

My device, as before stated, is in the nature of an attachment adaptedto be secured to any ordinary set of covers and backs, and it ispreferably used with a body portion, as shown, constituting a supportfor the working parts. lt'is obvious, however, that this body portionmay be made of several sections centrally hinged, or the hinges might beomitted depending on the flexibility of the back to operate as a hinge,or the body portion might be omitted and each end of thefile be providedwith lugs with right angular ears to receive a spring actuated rodperforming the functions of the rod as shown, and I therefore desire itto be known, that any of these constructions are contemplated by myinvention and are included as a part of this application, the

principle feature of which is the simultaneous locking and unlocking ofthe two ends of a file by a common means, in the manner set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A loose leaf file comprising covers and a back, spaced pairs of earsupstanding from the back, those of each pair being adapted foroverlapping when in closed position, each ear being provided with anorifice and one ear of each pair being formed with a slot leading fromthe orifice to the edge of the ear, said edge of the ear being beveledto provide a sharpened wedge portion, a single rod slidable in theorifices of the unslotted ears and projecting at each end from the ears,a hand lug on one projecting end, a lock fixed on the other projectingend of the rod, a second look fixed on the rod between the ears and onthe opposite end portion, said locks being adapted to enter the orificesof the slotted ears when brought into coincidence therewith, andleaf-engaging posts on the back.

2. In a loose leaf file, hingedly connected body plates each having itsends upturned to provide opposing ears, the ears of one plate beingorificed and the ears of the companion plate being provided each with anorifice and a slot leading therefrom to the edge of the ear which edgeis beveled to form a sharpened wedge portion, leaf-engaging posts on thebody plates, a rod slidable in the orifices of the first specified earsand projecting therefrom at its ends, a collar fixed on the rod adjacentone of the ears, a coiled spring encircling the rod between and bearingagainst the collar and the adj acent ear, ahand lug on one projectingend of the rod, a lock fixed on the opposite pro jecting rod end, and acollar fixed on the rod between the ears and adjacent the ear oppositefrom the one supporting the spring.

- 3. In a loose leaf file a pair of body members secured to the innersurface of the back and hinged together longitudinally at the centralline of the back; an ear on each end of each body portion, the ears onsimilar ends of the body members mating when the file is closed; a rodslidably mounted in orifices in the ears of one body member and slots inthe ears on the other body member to engage the said rod; and an orificeat the ends of said slots; lugs on the rod to engage in the saidorifices when the file is closed and form a lock to bind the mating earstogether; a spring on said rod to hold the said lugs in said orificesand means to actuate said rod so as to withdraw the lugs simultaneouslyfrom their seating orifices, the

ears provided with the said slots being beveled to a point adapted toengage between their mating ears and the said lugs for forcing the rodagainst the spring, when pressure is applied, for automatically lockingthe file when the same is closed; means on the body members forreceiving and retaining perforated sheets to be placed in the file,substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES F. MCBEE.

Witnesses CHAS. E. CAMERON, VILLA VAN DYKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

I Washington, D. G.

